On 30 November 2026, Irene Among will defend her PhD thesis investigating the diverse interpretations and applications of policy coherence in social protection systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- PhD student
- Date
- Monday 30 Nov 2026, 15:00 - 17:00
- Type
- PhD defence
- Spoken Language
- English
- Room
- Aula B and livestream
- Location
- International Institute of Social Studies
Among argues that policy coherence remains ambiguous, allowing the concept to accommodate multiple agendas across donor and state communities. Its diverse interpretations and applications have often resulted in broad generalisations that social protection systems in the region are fragmented, while obscuring variations in how coherence and fragmentation coexist.
In her thesis, Among reframes coherence as a contested, uneven process and asymmetrical outcome of historical trajectories and actor interpretations across legal, policy and administrative governance functions. She focuses particularly on South Africa and Uganda.
Watch Irene's defence live
Download the abstracts
Doctoral Board
Chair
Doctoral dissertation supervisors
Professor Professor Andrew Fischer
Professo Markus Kaltenborn, Ruhr University Bochum
Full Doctoral Committee
Dr Elmarie Fourie, University of Johannesburg
Professor Jimi Adesina, University of South Africa
Dr Anne Siebert, Ruhr University Bochum
Professor Wil Hout, International Institute of Social Studies
Dr Keetie Roelen, The Open University
Professor Karin Arts, International Institute of Social Studies
- More information
The ceremony will begin promptly at 15:00 hrs in the Aula of the ISS, Kortenaerkade 12, The Hague. The doors will be closed after the start of the Public Defence, but will be briefly opened after the candidate’s introduction to allow latecomers to enter.
Children under 7 years old are not allowed in the Aula during the first part of the ceremony.
Professors are invited to join the academic procession.
- Related links
- ISS PhD programme
